Elevator



Jan. 17, 1939.. c. A. LUNDEEN ELEVATOR Original Filed Jan. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOR N EYS Jan, 17, 1939.

c. A/LUNDEEN ELEVATOR 2 SheetsSheet 2 v Original Filed Jan 13, 1936 INVENTOR.

BY $9 k ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 17, i939 UNIT E. STATES PATENT OFFICE ELEVATOR Chester Albert Lundeen, 110$.A11g6185, Calif assignor to Byron Jackson 00., Iros .A-ngeles, Califl, a corporation of Delaware Original application January 13, 1936, Serial No. 58,907. Divided and this application September 29, 1936, Serial No. 103,176

57 Claims.

This invention relates to elevators for raising and lowering strings of pipe or rod in wells and has to be particularly, although not exclusively,

with structural details for satisfying special requirements in large elevators for handling very large pipe creasing.

This is a division of my application Serial No.

58,907, filed January 13, 1936, on a Slip elevator,

issued on March 1, 1938, as Patent No. 2,109,493. An object of the invention is to provide an elevator for handling very large pipe, which elevator is not of ungainly dimensions and weight while at the same time having ample strength to support heavy strings of pipe or casing.

Another object is to provide a lock for the latch of ail-elevator, which look can be adjusted to be self-locking when the elevator is supportinga pipe or can be adjusted to be nonself-looking if the additional safety of a self-locking latch is not required or desired.

Another object is to provide an elevator construction in which the links for supporting the elevator are positively retained in engagement with the link-engaging elements on the elevator and in which the strength of the link-engaging members is increased without materially increasthe points of support are spaced outwardly a substantial distance from the periphery of the pipe engaged by the elevator. As a result, there is a twisting or turning strain imposed upon the elevator tending to spread it at the bottom and compress it at the top. In order to resist these spreading and compressing forces, the elevator body must be made relatively heavy. In large elevators for handling very large pipe or casing the weight and the lateral dimensions of the elevator may become prohibitively great. In accordance with the present invention, I reduce the weight and the lateral dimensions of an elevator by mounting the link-engaging members on the upper end of the elevator closely adjacent the pipe-opening in the elevator instead of employing trunnions extending laterally from the elevator. My construction places the points of support of the elevator closely adjacent the pipe one end a door 2.

of the body member 1.

and greatly reduces the twisting strain on the elevator body, thereby "making possible a substantial reduction in the size and weight of the body members. Furthermorathe link-engaging members, being placed directly above the elevator, need not extend out an appreciable distance beyond the periphery of a pipe in the elevator, thereby reducing the space required for the elevator.

The exact manner-in which the aforementioned objects maybe achieved will be explained in detail with reference to the drawing which illustrates the invention as embodied in a side door elevator. It is to be understood, however, that various features of the invention may be employed in center latch elevators as Well as side door elevators and that the invention is not limited to the latter type.

In the-drawings:

Fig. *1 is a plan view of the elevator, with parts broken away to show details of construction, with the-elevator in closed position; and

Fig. '2 is a front elevation of the elevator in closed position, a portion of the elevator being broken away and shown partly in section to better 1:

illustrate the construction employed; and

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view showing the construction of the adjustable lock on the door latch of the elevator.

Referring to Figs. -1 and 2 the side door slip elevator therein depicted comprises a main body member I having hingedly connected thereto at Thus the body member I is provided with hinge lugs or eyes 3 and 4, respectively, the door 2 is provided with 'hinge lugs 5 .12." and 6, respectively, and a hinge pin I extends through the lugs 3,4, 5 and '6 to pivotally connect them together.

"The body member -I is also provided with linkengaging ears or hooks I0, both of which are identical with each other and are positioned diametricallyopposite each other on opposite ends As is most clearly shown in Fig. 2, these members l0 rise directly out of the upper end or edge of the body member I so that they will "be positioned relatively close to a pipe supported by the elevator. Each of the members I'll comprises a relatively heavy arm formedintegrally with the body member I and comprising a vertical portion II rising out of the body member l and merging into an outwardly anddownwardly-curved hook portion I2 having a curved seat I3 on its undersurface for contacting lifting links I (shown in broken lines in Fig. 2).

To provide support for the outer end of each member In and to prevent escape of the link I4 from the seat I3, a latch I5 is provided which is pivotally attached by a pin I6 to the outer end of the arm portion I2 and is adapted to swing between an open position (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) and a closed position (shown in full lines in Fig. 2). To facilitate the mounting of the latch I5, the outer end of the arm I2 is preferably bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby providing two walls between which the latch 15 is positioned. The slot or passage between the bifurcated ends of the portion I2 extends inwardly past the seat I3, as shown in Fig. 2, for receiving a short arm I! on the latch l5.

When the latch I5 is in fully open position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the arm H extends downwardly across the opening through which the link I4 must pass to reach the seat I3. When the latch I5 is in fully closed position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the lower edge of the arm I? is substantially flush with the seat i3. A spring catch I 8 is provided for releasably retaining the latch I 5 either in open or closed position, the latch being oscillatable about a supporting pin it and having a shoulder 28 adapted to engage against shoulders 22 and 23 on the latch I5. The catch It may be manually released by pressing it inwardly against the tension of the spring 24. However, it is purposely designed as shown to have no outwardly projecting parts which might be accidentally engaged.

When the links l4 are to be placed in seating position, the latches I5 are lifted into open position in which position they are retained by the catch H3. The links I 4 are then pressed against the arm I! which rotates the latches into the closed position (the shoulders 28 and 22 being slightly rounded to permit release of the latch I5 in response to substantial pressure against the arm [7). Then when lifting force is applied to links I4 the latter pull up tight against the seats I 3 and positively prevent the latches I5fromopening. Each latch I5 is provided at its lower end with a pair of laterally projecting lugs 26 having arcuate bearing surfaces 2? which slip over and engage complementary surfaces 28 on the body member I. With this construction as soon as suficient tension is applied to the links I4 to fiex the link-engaging members In the faces 27 on the lugs 26 seat tightly against the faces 28 on the body member so that further strain is distributed between the portion I l of the member is and the latch I5. This provides support on both sides of each of the seats I3 and makes it possible to make the portion II of lighter construction than would be necessary if the link I5 did not provide reinforcement as described.

When a link !4 is to be removed from seating engagement with the catch E5, the catch is depressed to disengage the shoulder 23 on the latch I5 and the link is pulled straight out, thereby swinging the latch I 5 into open position as shown in dotted lines.

Of course in any elevator, particularly any slip type elevator in which the slips are wedged between the pipe and the body member and door of the elevator, the door must be positively and rigidly locked in closed position during a pipe lifting operation. Various door latches may be employed in the construction described but a particularly effective one has been illustrated and is shown to best advantage in Figs. 1 and 3. Thus it comprises a latch 90 hingedly connected to one end of the body member I by a pin 9! (Fig. 3)

and adapted to engage shoulders 92 and 93 on the end of the door 2 when the elevator is in closed position. The latch 90 is preferably provided with a handle 95 to facilitate opening and is constantly urged into locking position by a helical spring 95 compressed between a recessed wing 96 on the latch and the body member I.

The rear faces of the shoulders 92 and 93 are rounded off as shown in Fig. 1 and the front faces of the latch 96 are likewise rounded off so that when the door 2 is slammed shut the latch 98 is automatically forced outwardly by contacting with the rounded faces on the shoulders 92 and 93 to permit the latch to slip thereover. Of course, when the door is fully closed the spring 95 snaps the latch over the shoulders 92 and 93 into the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the rear substantially fiat faces 97 of the latch engage against the front faces of the shoulders 92 and 93. shoulders 92 and 93 are slightly convex and concentric relative to the latch pin 9! when the door is in closed position to facilitate closing and opening of the latch.

However, the latch be positively locked in closed position when the weight of a pipe is on the elevator, the weight of the pipe tending to open the door. To this end, I prefer to form a ridge 99 on the latch engaging face of the shoulder which ridge instead of being rounded off extends substantially straight, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The latch member is provided with a screw I89 extending therethrough at the level of the ridge 98 on the shoulder 2 so that when the screw IE9 is adjusted so that its end extends beyond the face 9'! of the latch it contacts the ridge 99, as shown in Fig. 3. The ridge is inclined at such an angle that in order for the latch to open the door must be fully closed. Therefore, if the latch is once closed and the slips set into engagement with a pipe the force of the slips acting between the pipe and the body member 5 and the door 2 tends to open the door, forcing the ridge 99 up against the end of the screw i i-G and positively preventing any opening movement of the latch. However, after the slips have been retracted so that the door 2 can move into fully closed position, then the ridge 99 is displaced far enough away from the edge of the screw 55:1; to permit opening of the latch.

'In case it is not desired to utilize the self-locking feature described, the screw its is simply turned out until its end is flush with the face 51, whereupon it forms no function in the operation of the latch and the latch may be opened or closed without the door 2 being in fully closed position so long as the opening pressure on the door does not produce sufficient friction between the engaging faces of the latch and the shoulders 92?. and 93 to prevent movement of the latch.

For purposes of illustration, the various features of my invention have been described as incorporated in a particular side door slip elevator. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the particuiar elevator construction illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention and the invention is therefore to be limited only as set in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a well pipe elevator, body means for encircling and supportedly engaging a pipe, said means being adapted to open for the reception of a pipe in such a way as to shift its center of gravity horizontally, and having a pair of oppositely The main portions of the front faces of i in some instances it is desired that disposed link-engaging hook elements integral with and extending upwardly from the upper end of said body means at points thereon spaced diametrically when the elevator is closed, whereby the link-engaging portions of said hook elements are located above the center of gravity of the body means a distance large relative to the horizontal displacement of the center of gravity of the body means due to opening of the elevator, and the tilting of the elevator when opened while suspended on the elevator links is thereby reduced.

2. A well casing elevator of the type described comprising body members for encircling and supportedly engaging a pipe and having a pair of oppositely disposed laterally extending link-engaging hook elements adapted to removably receive elevator links, link-retaining arms pivotally attached to said hook elements adjacent the outer ends thereof, and locking means at the pivoted ends of said link-retaining arms for securing said arms in closed position.

3. A well pipe elevator of the type described, comprising body members for encircling and supportedly engaging a pipe and having a pair of oppositely disposed laterally extending link-engaging hook elements adapted to removably receive elevator links, a slot in the underside of each hook element adjacent the outer end thereof, link-retaining arms pivotally mounted in said slots, a finger integral with said link-retaining means adapted to lie in said slot with its lower edge substantially flush with the load-sustaining undersurface of said hook elements, whereby the elevator links will hold the link-retaining arms in the closed position when the elevator is supported from said links, and means for releasably securing the link-retaining means in the closed position.

4. An elevator of the type described comprising body means for encircling and supportedly engaging a pipe, a pair of link-engaging means secured to said body means at diametrically spaced points thereon, each link-engaging means comprising an arm anchored to said body means at one end and having a substantially horizontally extending link-engaging portion intermediate its ends, latch means pivotally secured to the outer end of said arm, a shoulder on said body means, a cooperating shoulder on said latch, said shoulders having cooperating faces substantially concentric with respect to the latch pivot whereby the latch moves freely from open to closed position when no lifting strain is applied to said arm but whereby distortion of said arm in response to lifting forces applied thereto by a link causes said cooperating faces to engage and prevent further upward movement of the outer end of said arm relative to said body means, and spring catch means for releasably retaining said latch in open position in which position said projecting member on said latch lies in the path of movement of a supporting link when the latter is being moved into seating position against said arm.

5. An elevator of the type described comprising body means for encircling and supportedly engaging a pipe, a pair of link-engaging means secured to said body means at diametrically spaced points thereon, each linkengaging means comprising an arm anchored to said body means at one end and having a substantially horizontally extending link-engaging portion intermediate its ends, latch means pivotally secured to the outer end of said arm, a shoulder on said body means, a cooperating shoulder on said latch, said shoulders having cooperating faces substantially concentric with respect to the latch pivot whereby the latch moves freely from open to closed position when no lifting strain is applied to said arm but whereby distortion of said arm in response to lifting forces applied thereto by a link causes said cooperating faces to engage and prevent further upward movement of the outer end of said arm relative to body means, spring catch means for releasably retaining said latch in open position in which position said projecting member on said latch lies in the path of movement of a supporting link when the latter is being moved into seating position against said arm, and means including said spring catch means for releasably retaining said latch in closed position.

6. A well casing elevator comprising body members for encircling and supportedly engaging a casing and having a pair of oppositely disposed laterally extending link-engaging ears each comprising an upper fork and a lower fork, the upper forks having recesses in the under sides thereof, link-retaining arms pivotally attached to said upper forks adjacent the outer ends thereof, a finger integral with each retaining arm at the pivoted end thereof projecting inwardly and adapted to lie in the recess of the associated fork when said arm is in closed position so that the under edge of the finger is substantially flush with the linkengaging portion of the fork, and spring-pressed latch means for automatically yieldably securing said arm in the closed position.

7. A well casing elevator comprising body members for encircling and supportably engaging a casing and having a pair of oppositely disposed laterally extending link-engaging ears each comrising an upper fork and a lower fork, the upper forks having recesses in the undersides thereof, link-retaining arms pivotally attached to said upper forks adjacent the outer ends thereof, and a spring pressed latch member mounted on each upper fork and adapted to engage the upper end of the associated arm for automatically securing said arm in the closed position.

CHESTER ALBERT LUNDEEN. 

